Manqoba Mngqithi identifies Orlando Pirates’ key weapon

The Golden Arrows mentor, who took charge of the Carling All-Star team against the Buccaneers on Saturday, watched his side fall to a 2-0 defeat at Moses Mabhida Stadium – offering him another close look at the Betway Premiership leaders.

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Mngqithi says Pirates’ ability to maximise their moments sets them apart from the rest of the chasing pack.

"I think what is more fascinating with this Pirates team which surprises a lot of people is that they are just efficient. And sometimes that dries up because when you look at the excuses sometimes - you say they don't create as many chances and they rely on the mistakes of the opponents, but they are able to punish most of those mistakes this season which in the past they would miss a lot maybe because they don't create as many chances. But this season I think the inclusion of players like Moremi, Appollis has really refined their attacking play, and we know what they are capable of," said  Mngqithi.

A title winner with Mamelodi Sundowns, Mngqithi added that the true test for Pirates will be in the second half of the campaign.

"That efficiency, sometimes if it dries up - you must rely on how much creativity, how much do you really force the opponents to make mistakes because it is a different story to play on transition and it is a different story when you have to break down the low blocks. I can guarantee from what they have done in the first half of the season, a lot of teams are going to sit back in the second half and when they sit back it leads to a lot of questions. At the moment, I think they have created a lot of goals on transition," added Mngqithi.

On the game itself, Mngqithi argued they were thrown off by the injury to goalkeeper and captain Brandon Petersen.

Mngqithi also had tips for the Carling Black Label Cup organisers.

"I think there are many positives in the concept in itself, its open opportunities for youngsters to play with the senior players. The only thing that I think can be improved in that regard - the rule of having five youngsters on the pitch is a good rule, I don't have a problem with that, but I think it is right to have a line up that is already up there - where you cannot decide on which youngsters you want to start with. Because, if maybe the voting is about six senior players to be on the pitch then the other five youngsters the coach is given a chance to make that choice, I think it will influence the game better," he expressed.